TikTok's links to China aren't "murky". ByteDance is literally a Chinese company. Chinese companies are regularly coerced by the state in the PRC, in obvious ways (Jack Ma says Hi) and subtle ones (the coordinated dance to bail out Evergrande).
I'm sensitive to your demand for proof, but how much more "proof" do you want? If the PRC wants to manipulate western democracy by mobilizing a force of Gen-Z nuts via messages in their favorite app, they can do it, just like they do domestically.
I'm sensitive to your demand for proof, but how much more "proof" do you want? If the PRC wants to manipulate western democracy by mobilizing a force of Gen-Z nuts via messages in their favorite app, they can do it, just like they do domestically.